Automatic fire-extinguisher system



No. 6|7,365. Patented Jan. lo, |899. c. G. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

(Application led May 31, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. M365. Patented 1an.v lo, |899.

c. a. smmi.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

i (Application led May 31. 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

NrTED STATES PATENT EEICE.

CHARLES G. SMITH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,365, dated January10, 1899.

Application led May 31,1898. Serial No. 682,184. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented a new and useful Automatic Fire-Extinguisher System, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic fire-ex-v tinguishers of that classwherein a chemical is contained within a tiltable tank adapted to bebrought into service by the burning of a detaining-cord or itsequivalent, and to empty the chemical upon a fire in a room orapartment; and the primary object that I have in view is to provide animproved construction of extinguisher-tank in which one of the chemicalsis contained, preferably, Within a series of closed tubes or vials whichare adapted to be fractured by positively-acting devices on inversion ofthe tank, whereby the liquid contents of the tubes are caused tothoroughly commingle with a solution in the tank and whereby the sealedtubes are broken, so as to avoid the danger of the cork remaining4embedded in the bottle to interfere With or delay the action of theextinguisher, as in prior devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improveddistributing-sprayer, which may be adjusted to regulate the quantity ofliquid ejected from the tank When the latter is inverted, and to spreadthe liquid in the form of a sheet or spray over a largearea of the room,and said nozzle or sprayer is also adapted to serve as a means forconveniently introducing the liquid into the tank after the system shallhave been installed, or for re" newing the liquid from time to time soas to compensate for the slight loss that may be occasioned byevaporation.

With these ends in View the invention consist-s in the novel combinationof elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, which willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated thepreferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a sectionalperspective view of a room or apartment with a series of myextinguishers applied thereto, all but one of the extinguishers beingshown in their normal positions and the other extinguisher-tankrepresented as inverted to its active position.

Fig. 2 is' an enlarged sectional 'elevationv through the tank in itsnormal position. Fig, 3 is a similar sectional elevation with the tankinverted to illustrate the series of tubes as having discharged theircontents into the liquid contained in the tank for the purpose ofinsuring thorough commingling of the two liquids which are containedrespectively in the chamber of the tank and the tubes or vials. Fig. 4is an enlarged detail sectional elevation through thedistributing-sprayer. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through thesprayer, on the plane indicated by the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a detail View of one of the clamps by which one end of theacid-containing tube may be held in place securely within the tiltabletank. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic View of the electric circuit to moreclearly indicate the circuitclosers. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective viewof the circuit-closer and the insulating-plug associated therewith.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in eachof the several figures of the drawings.

In order that others skilled in the art may understand my invention, Ihave represented the same in operative position on the ceiling l of aroom or apartment by Fig. l of the accompanying drawings. This figureillustrates a number of the extinguisher devices as suspended indifferent positions from the ceiling and as arranged to direct the uidcontained therein toward the corners and against the walls of the roomas well as at points along the length of the room. The extinguishers maybe and preferably are grouped or arranged in pairs so as to have eachpair discharge the fluid contents thereof in different directions,and insaid Fig. l a number ofthe extinguishers,preferably eleven,are shown intheir normal inoperative positions, while the final or twelfthextinguisher is inverted and represented in its active position.

I would have it understood, however, that I do not confine myself to theemployment of any particular number of extinguishers nor to the arrangem ent thereof on the ceiling, as it is evi- IOO dent that the numberof extinguishers will vary according to the dimensions of the room inwhich the system is installed, and that the extinguishers will bearranged in a manner best calculated to afford protection to the wallsor contents of the apartment. It is to be understood, therefore, that Ireserve the right to use one, two, or more extinguishers; but in passingI desire to remark that it is preferable to employ a pair of theextinguishers which are to be arranged to act independently of eachother and to be controlled by separate cords or fusiblejointed wires, sothat one tank will afford protection to one part of the room byseverance of its Wire or cords, and the other tank remains inoperativeunless the fire spreads to such an extent as to sever the jointed wireor cord to said last-mentioned vessel.

I will now proceed to a detailed description of the preferredconstruction of one extinguisher, and it will be understood that eachextinguisher is constructed according to the following` description: n

Secured rigidly to the ceiling is a frame or yoke 2, which depends asuitable distance below the horizontal plane of the ceiling andfurnishes a support for a tiltable tank or vessel 3, which is arrangedto lie compactly within the limits of the yoke. Normally this tank orvessel occupies an inverted position within the yoke, and in thefollowing description it will be understood that the tank is describedin its normal position, except wherein occasion is taken to refer to thetank as being inverted. This tank is pivotally connected at or near itslower end to the frame or yoke, and such pivotal connections areindicated by the numeral 4E as beingin the form of pins or boltsattached to a band or ring which is fixed to the tank, while the pins orbolts are loosely supported in the yoke; but the detailed constructionof the pivotal joint is not essential. The tank is maintained normallyin its upright position by means of a detaining-cord 5, which is rigidlyattached at one end to the tank at or near its upper end. This cord maybe led or carried through suitable guides, such as screw-eyes ofsheaves, which are fastened to the wall of the room along that partthereof which is designed to be protected by the extinguisher, and theother end of said cord 5 is suitably secured in place on the wall orceiling, so that the tiltable vessel or tank is designed to normallystrain the cord, thus utilizing a part of the vessels weight to hold thecord in a taut condition. In lieu of the cord shown and just described Imay employ the equivalent thereof in the form of a wire provided atsuitable intervals with fusible joints or connections, but as saidsectional wire is a well-known feature in the art I have not deemed itnecessary to illustrate the same or more particularly describe it.

The tiltable tank or vessel is adapted to contain one of the chemicalswhich when mixed with another chemical constitutes the extinguishingcompound. The tank may contain a solution of carbonate of soda, whilethe other chemical may be in the form of sulfuric acid which iscontained within a series or plurality of hermetically-closed tubes orvials 6, whereby loss of the acid by evaporation is wholly obviated.Each acid-carrying tube is blown of glass to provide an integral head atone end and is left open at its other end for the introduction of thesulfuric acid into the tube, after which said open end of the tube maybe sealed in a hermetic manner to overcome evaporation and waste of theacid. I employ a series of these sealed acid-carrying tubes, and arrangethem transversely within the tank or vessel 3, one below the other, andsaid tubes are attached to the tank or vessel to remain fixed thereinwhen fractured or broken. This breakage of the series of tubes Giseffected simultaneously with the tilting of the vessel or tank on itspivotal connection with the yoke through the medium of a dropweightwhich is operatively connected with each tube of the series, so that onthe tilting of the Vessel from its normal position the drop-weight isdisplaced in the vessel or tank and operates to fracture the tubes as ittravels through said vessel, thereby releasing the acid contained withinthe tubes and causing it to commingle with the solution contained withinthe tank to effect the admixture and chemical union of the two elementsconstituting the extinguishing compound during the period required forthe tilting of the vessel from its inoperative normal position to itsinverted active position.

The acid containing tubes may be supported within the tank by suitabledevices; but I prefer to employ a pair of clamps for each tube in orderto attach the respective ends thereof to the Vessel. In Fig. 6 of thedrawings I have shown in detail one of the tube-clamps, and it consistsof a substantially rigid member 8, which is solidly fastened to thetank, and a yieldable or spring member 9, also fastened to the tank andadapted to be deflected or depressed by hand away from the rigid member8 for the purpose of readily introducing the end of the acid-tubebetween said member of the clamp. The two members of the clamp arepreferably bent or curved in reverse directions to each other in orderto form a seat for the reception of the closed end of the acid-tube.Vith the tank in its normal position the rigid clamp member 8 lies abovethe tube, while the yieldable and lighter clamp member 9 lies below thetube. This arrangement is adopted in order that the strong rigid member8 may resist the shock or strain exerted on the tube by the action ofthe drop-weight when it is displaced from its seat on inversion of thevessel; but the yieldable member 9 of the clamp is of su iiicientstrength to sustain the weight of the light acid-tube and its contents.As shown by Fig. the rigid stationary member S of IOO IIO

'erases s the clamp is provided with a slot or recess which permits thefractured portion of the acid-tube to turn when the extinguisher is inoperation.

The'drop-Weight is indicated at 10, and it is of a diameter to movefreely through the tank in the direction of the length thereof. Thisweight is normally sustained in an elevated position above the series oftubes 6 by the seats or tianges 11, which are provided within the vesselor tank on a horizontal plane above the series of tubes, and thisdrop-weight rests loosely on its seats, so that it may readily bedisplaced therefrom when the tiltable tank begins to turn on its pivotalconnections to the inverted position shown by Fig. 3. The drop-weight isoperatively connected with the series of acid-tubes by a wire, cord, orother equivalent device 12, one end of which is attached to thedrop-weight. To insure quick fracture of the glass acid-tubes, Ipreferably, but not essentially, make each tube with a line of weakness,(indicated by the numeral 6%) around which is looped or other- Wisefitted the wire or cord 12. The connection between the wire or cord andthe friable tubes is effected at points intermediate of the length ofsaid tubes, and as the opposite ends of the tubes are attached to thetank or vessel by the clamps the tubes,when the drop- Weight descends,are adapted to be broken at or near the middle thereof. The ends'of thetubes remain attached to the tank while it is being inverted, and theacid is thus distributed at different points, so as to comminglethoroughly with the solution contained in the tank, thus contributing tothe efficiency of the structure and insuring rapidity in the chemicalunion of the ingredients forming the extinguishing liquid.

If preferred, the series of acid-tubes may be arranged within the tankin the same vertical plane; but, as shown by the drawings, I prefer toplace the tubes crosswise to each other, thus insuring intersection ofthe tubes and a more uniform distribution of th'e liquid contentsthereof into the solution contained within the tank.

To place the chemical in condition for irnmediate service on inversionof the tank, I employ one or more acid tubes or vials 13, which arearranged on the opposite side of the Weight 1Q from the series of tubes6. In the drawings, two of these upper tubes 13 are shown as crossingone another above the horizontal position occupied by the drop-Weight,and said tubes 13 lie quite close to the dropweight and are supported inthe tank or ves- .sel by clamps similar to the one shown by Fig. 6, orby other suitable means. The upper tubes 13, which lie closely to thedropweight, are designed to be crushed or broken at the initial movementof the tank during its inversion and before the acid from the tubes 6shall have an opportunity to commingle with the solution which firstfalls to the bottom of the tank, and by emptying the contents of thetubes 13 into the solution of the tank the extinguishing iuid is in acondition for service immediately the tank assumes a position Where thedistributing-sprayer permits the outow of the fluid. f

By the employment of the tubes 13 I am able to utilize all of thesolution in the tank, because the elements of the extinguishing compoundare united chemically before the irst quantity of the solution havingpassed the tubes 6 shall have an opportunity to escape from the tankprior to commingling of the acid therewith, which is an objectionablefeature in other devices.

The distributing-sprayer is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 14,and it is attached to the tank at or near the upperend thereof, assumingthe tank to be in its vertical position. The sprayer consists of a tube15, a plug 16, fastened within the tube by the screws 17, and a rose ordeflector 20. 'lhe plug 16 is fitted in the tube at a point intermediateof its length, and it is secured irmly but detachably therein by thetransverse screw 17. The plug is provided Witha series of liquid-ports18, and with a central female threaded socket 19, which is arrangedWithin the liquid-ports 18. The rose or deflector 20 is ofconcave-convex form to present its convex Working face to the liquid asit passes through the tube 15, and this rose or deliector is arranged atthe open mouth of the tube so as to leave a narrow passage or channelbetween the edge of the tube andthe face of the deflector, through whichchannel the liquid is free to pass. The deiiector is provided with acentral threaded stem 2l, which is screwed into the socket 19 of theplug 16, and this deiiec'tor may be adjusted in relation to the mouth ofthe tube by screwing the stem into or out of the socket in the plug,thus making provision for variation in the area of the channel throughwhich the liquid may escape. The form of the rose or spreader makes itwell adapted to distribute the liquid in the lform of a sheet-likespray, and as the deflector is adjustable the quantity of liquid whichescapes from the distributer may be easily controlled or regulated. Theopen mouth of the tube 15, which is partially closed by the rose ordistributer, is designed to be closed by an imperforate metallic cap 22,which is loosely fitted to said end of the tube to inclose thedistributer Within itself; but this cap 22 may be easily and quicklydisplaced on inversion of the tank by the gas which is produced in thetank by the chemical union of the ingredients forming the extinguishingcompound.

' In connection with my automatic extinguisher I employ an electricalalarm mechanism which is especially serviceable in connection with aseries of the extinguisher devices, because the alarm mechanism iscommon to all of the extinguisher devices. The

circuit of the electrical alarm is indicated generally by the 'numeral24 in Fig. 1 of the IIO drawings, and this circuit includes a battery 25or other suitable source of electric energy and an audible-alarm device2G, herein shown as embodied in an ordinary electric bell. The circuitwhich I prefer to employ consists of a conductor 27, which is attachedto one pole of the battery and the bell-magnet. A two-partreturn-conductor 28 and 29 is employed between the other pole of thebattery and the bell-magnet, and the sections or wires 28 29 of thisreturn-conductor are arranged in close parallel relation to each otherto enable a series of circuit-closers 30 to be operatively combinedtherewith. Each circuitcloser consists of two members 3l and 32,connected, respectively, to the conductors 28 and 29, and between saidcircuit-closer members is interposed an insulating-plug 33, which servesnormally to separate the members 3l and 32, thus maintaining an openelectric circuit. The insulating-plug 33 is preferably embodied in theform of an abrasive substance-as, for instance, emery-and thisinsulating-plug is operatively connected by a cord or wire Si to one ofthe tiltable tanks. It will be understood that a circuit-closer and aconnection are provided between each tank and the electric circuit. Theseverance of the detaining-cord 5 or the fusibly-jointed wire connectedwith one tank permits the latter to assume its inverted position, andthe strain or pull exerted by the tank on the cord 3i withdraws theinsulating-plug from engagement with the circuit-closer members 3l 32.As the plug is withdrawn it abrades the surfaces of the members 3l 32,so as to remove any sediment or corrosion on the faces of said members,and the members are thus adapted to close together, so as to completethe electric circuit and permit the battery to energize the circuit andbell-magnet, thus automatically sounding the alarm.

It is proper to remark that the rose may be perforated with a series oftransverse ports which permit the passage of liquid through the rose atpoints within the edge thereof, or the deector may be imperforate andarranged to direct the liquid in a sheet-like spray from the narrowpassage between the end of the tube 15 and the edge of the deiiector.

Each acid-containin g tube is or may be provided with enlargements atthe ends thereof, and said enlargements are designed to be engaged bythe clamps. This construction and arrangement insures retention of thetubes on the tank or vessel when the tube is broken. In lieu of theseries of tubes I may employ a single tube to be broken by the weight;but it is desirable to use the tubes in series, because the acid ismixed thoroughly with the solution when the tubes are broken and thetank inverted.

Slight changes maybe made in the form of some of the parts, while theiressential features are retained and the spirit of the inventionembodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of allthe parts as shown, as I reserve the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim isl. In afire-extinguisher, the combination with a tiltable vessel, and means fornormally holding the same in an upright position, of a drop-weightconfined within said vessel, a series of tubes arranged transverselywithin the vessel and fixed to the latter, and a cord connecting thedrop-weight with all of the tubes, substantially as described.

2. A fire-extinguisher comprising a tiltable tank, a frangible tubetherein, frictionclamps supported within the vessel and engaging withthe ends of said tube to normally hold the latter in a stationaryposition and to permit the ends of the tube, when fractured, to turn insaid clamps, and a drop-weight arranged to fracture the tube whendisplaced by inversion of the vessel or tank, substantially asdescribed.

3. An automatic fire-extinguisher comprising a tiltable tank, a seriesof spaced tubes each fixed at its ends within the tank, a dropweightnormallyseated in the tank above said tubes, and operative connectionsbetween the drop-weight and the tubes, whereby displacement of thedrop-weight on inversion of the tank fractures the tubes at pointsintermediate of their length, substantially as de* scribed.

4. An automatic fire-extinguisher comprising a tiltable tank, adrop-weight seated re movably therein, a series of tubes secured withinthe tank on one side of the drop-weight, means for connecting said tubeswith the drop-weight, and another tube or tubes supported within thetank on the opposite side of the drop-weight and adapted to be fracturedthereby on inversion of the vessel in advance of the first-named seriesof tubes, substantially as described.

5. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination with a tiltable tank, and adrop-Weight seated removably therein, of a tube held transversely withinthe tank at one side of said Weight and in the path of the latter,another series of tubes fixed Within the tank on the opposite side ofthe drop-weight, and an operative con nection between the last-namedseries of tubes and said drop weight, substantially as described.

G. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination with a tiltable vessel and adrop-weight seated therein, of a series of frangible tubes arrangedtransversely within the tank in staggered re lation one to the other andeach tube having enlarged ends, a pair of clamps connected individuallyto the enlarged ends of each tube, and a pull-cord attached to thedrop-weight and to the series of friable tubes, substantially asdescribed.

7. In an automatic fire-extinguisher system,

the combination with a series of tiltable vessels, of an electricalarm-circuit including a battery, an alarm device, and with certain ofIOO IlO

its conductors arranged in close parallel re- In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as lation to each other, a ser1es of olroult-closers myown I have hereto aixed my signature in ro having their membersoperatively connected the presence of two Witnesses.

with the respective closely-adjacent ooncluotors, and a series ofinsulated abrasive vplugs CHARLES G' SMH H' tted between the members ofthe eirouit- Witnesses:

olosers and connected with the tiltable tanks, J. M. VALKER,

substantially as described. B. T. WEBSTER.

